Echeveria Plant Named &#39;Serena&#39;

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of Echeveria plant named ‘Serena’ which is characterized by relaxed succulent foliage in a stemless rosette, glaucescent greyed-purple foliage with a pink hue, and a foliar aspect which varies from convex to concave with an upturned leaf tip thus creating a wavy appearance. The new variety has shown to be uniform and stable in the resulting generations from asexual propagation.

Latin name of the genus and species:

The Latin name of the genus and species of the novel variety disclosedherein is Echeveria hybrid.

Variety denomination:

The inventive variety of Echeveria disclosed herein has been given thevariety denomination ‘Serena’.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to the Community Plant Variety Rightsapplication number 2019/3109, filed on Nov. 27, 2019, which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Parentage: ‘Serena’ is a naturally-occurring, whole-plant mutation of anunnamed Echeveria gibbiflora x Echeveria elegans ‘Perle von Nuernberg’plant (not patented) which was discovered by the inventor in March of2009 at a commercial greenhouse in Bordighera, Italy. The mutation wasnoted for its purple foliage with a wavy appearance.

Asexual Reproduction: Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Serena’,by way of rooting leaf cuttings, was first initiated in March of 2009 ata commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Through eightsubsequent generations, the unique features of this cultivar have provento be stable and true to type.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘Serena’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘Serena’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘Serena’ as a new and distinct Echeveria cultivar:

-   -   1. ‘Serena’ exhibits relatively relaxed succulent foliage        arranged in a basal rosette; and    -   2. ‘Serena’ exhibits inverted carinate foliage which varies from        convex to concave, creating a wavy appearance, with the leaf tip        curled upward.    -   3. ‘Serena’ exhibits glaucescent greyed-purple foliage with a        pink hue and pink margins.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

FIG. 1 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, an exemplary plant of‘Serena’ grown in a commercial greenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands.This plant is approximately 1 year old, shown planted in a 12 cmcontainer.

FIG. 2 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the typical foliagearrangement of ‘Serena’.

FIG. 3 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the adaxial surface of themature foliage ‘Serena’.

FIG. 4 illustrates, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to makethe same in color photographs of this type, the abaxial surface of themature foliage ‘Serena’.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following observations and measurements made in November of 2019describe averages from a sample set of six specimens of 1 year old‘Serena’ plants grown in 12 cm nursery containers at commercialgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, the Netherlands. Plants were produced usingconventional greenhouse production protocols for Echeveria whichconsisted of minimal subsurface irrigation, fertilizer applications, andchemical pest control measures against thrips as required. No otherchemical pest and disease control measures were taken. Plants were grownunder approximately 50 percent shade after propagation and later exposedto full sun once they began to mature. No photoperiodic treatments orartificial light was given to the plants.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that certain characteristicswill vary with older or, conversely, with younger plants. ‘Serena’ hasnot been observed under all possible environmental conditions. Wheredimensions, sizes, colors and other characteristics are given, it is tobe understood that such characteristics are approximations or averagesset forth as accurately as practicable. The phenotype of the variety maydiffer from the descriptions set forth herein with variations inenvironmental, climatic and cultural conditions. Color notations arebased on The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, The RoyalHorticultural Society, London, 2015 (sixth edition).

A botanical description of ‘Serena’ and a comparison with the parent andclosest known comparator is provided below.

-   Plant description:    -   -   Growth habit.—Succulent perennial with foliage growing in a            non-branched basal rosette.        -   Plant form.—Flattened globular.        -   Height from soil level to top of foliar plane.—7.8 cm.        -   Plant spread.—Average of 16.7 cm.        -   Growth rate.—Moderately fast.        -   Plant vigor.—Moderately vigorous.        -   Propagation.—Type — Leaf cuttings. Time to initiate rooting            — Approximately 5 weeks at an approximate temperature of 21            degrees Celsius. Crop time — Approximately 1 year to produce            a marketable plant in a 12 cm container.        -   Disease and pest resistance or susceptibility.—Neither            resistance nor susceptibility to typical Echeveria pests and            diseases has been observed.        -   Environmental tolerances.—Adapt to, at least, USDA Zones 10            to 12 and temperatures as high as 40 degrees Celsius;            moderate tolerance to rain yet drought tolerant once            established; high tolerance to wind.-   Root system:    -   -   General.—Fine, well-branched fibrous roots.-   Stems:    -   -   Branching habit.—No stems or branches; leaves arranged in a            basal rosette.-   Foliage:    -   -   Arrangement.—Rosette.        -   Division.—Simple.        -   Attachment.—Sessile.        -   Quantity.—Approximately 46 leaves per rosette.        -   Shape.—Obovate to nearly spatulate.        -   Dimensions.—7.1 cm long, 4.0 cm wide, and 0.6 cm thick, on            average.        -   Aspect.—Slightly inverted carinate to moderately inverted            carinate; moderately concave to moderately convex with leaf            tip curled upward.        -   Attitude.—Leaves are held upright and outward near the            center of the rosette and become progressively more relaxed            towards the outer whorls of foliage.        -   Apex.—Broad abruptly acute.        -   Base.—Long cuneate.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the adaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and glaucescent.        -   Pubescence, texture and luster of the abaxial            surface.—Glabrous, smooth, and glaucescent.        -   Color.—Juvenile foliage, adaxial surface — Brown, nearest to            200C, and suffused with greyed-purple distally, nearest to            in between RHS 187B and 187C; fading to greyed-red towards            the base, nearest to in between RHS 182C and 182D; margined            greyed-red, nearest to RHS 182C. Leaves are covered with a            thin layer of epicuticular wax which is colored            greyed-purple, nearest to RHS N187C. Juvenile foliage,            abaxial surface — Brown, nearest to 200C, and suffused with            greyed-purple distally, nearest to RHS 187A; fading to            greyed-red towards the base, nearest to in between RHS 182C            and 182D; margined greyed-red, nearest to RHS 182C. Leaves            are covered with a thin layer of epicuticular wax which is            colored greyed-purple, nearest to RHS N187C. Mature foliage,            adaxial surface — Greyed-orange, nearest to RHS 177A;            suffused with brown distally, nearest to RHS 200C; margined            greyed-green, nearest to RHS 195B; fading to greyed-red            towards the base, nearest to RHS 182C. Leaves are covered            with a thin layer of epicuticular wax which is colored            greyed-green, nearest to in between RHS 198A and 198B.            Mature foliage, abaxial surface — Nearest to in between            yellow-green and greyed-green, RHS 148A and 197A, and            margined greyed-green, nearest to RHS 195B; fading to            greyed-brown towards the base, nearest to RHS 199B. Leaves            are covered with a thin layer of epicuticular wax which is            colored greyed-green, nearest to in between RHS 198A and            198B.        -   Venation.—Pattern — No venation is visible. Color, adaxial            surface — No venation is visible. Color, abaxial surface.—No            venation is visible.        -   Petiole.—No petiole; leaves are sessile.-   Inflorescence: No flowering has been observed to date.

COMPARISONS WITH THE PARENT PLANT

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Serena’ differ from the parent, an unnamedEcheveria hybrid plant (not patented) in the following characteristicsdescribed in Table 1 below.

TABLE 1 Characteristic ‘Serena’ The parent. Foliage aspect. Invertedcarinate. Flat. Foliage aspect. Varying from convex Distal portion ofthe to concave, creating leaf margins and tip a wavy appearance, arecurled upward. with the leaf tip curled upward. General colorationGreyed-purple with a Greyed-purple with a of the foliage. weaker pinkhue. stronger pink hue.

COMPARISONS WITH THE CLOSEST KNOWN COMPARATOR

Plants of the new cultivar ‘Serena’ differ from the species Echeveriahybrid AMIECH1819′ (U.S. Pat. No. 31,493), which is the closest knowncomparator, in the following characteristics described in Table 2 below.

TABLE 2 Characteristic ‘Serena’ ‘AMIECH1819’ Foliage aspect. Varyingfrom convex Moderately to strongly to concave, creating convex andmoderately a wavy appearance, to strongly revolute with the leaf tonear-tubular; tip curled upward. foliage is slightly curved upwards.Presence of Not present. Present. irregularly globular growths on thefoliage. Color of the Greyed-purple. Black. epicuticular wax. Generalcoloration Greyed-purple with a Greyed-purple with a of the foliage.stronger pink hue. weaker pink hue.

That which is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Echeveriaplant named ‘Serena’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.